Posts Tagged ‘DIY’
A lot of people don’t associate being frugal with fashion friendliness. Most fashionistas will argue that the more expensive, the better. That doesn’t always have to be true, use some of these tips to stay “à la mode”, not “à la broke”.
1. Buy To Last
When you are buying clothes, try to purchase durable products, even if they are more expensive. Well-made clothes have heavy seams and added reinforcement at stress points to ensure the product survives daily use. Avoid items with flimsy seams or fabric that won’t wash well.
2. Get Student Haircuts
Student hairdressers will often give you a free or discounted haircut. Find your local beauty school and see what their policies are for giving walk-in or appointment based haircuts. Some will even do colors, manicures/pedicures, and waxing.
3. Buy Vintage or Hand-Made Jewelery
Most specialist vintage boutiques usually have the reputation of being pretty pricey. A lot of flea markets have sellers who have a passion for vintage items and usually offer them at lower prices. It’s a good way to find items that might not be collector quality, but they will still capture the character and beauty of a bygone age. Also, when it comes to hand-made items websites like etsy.com or ebay are another great resource for jewelry that would normally cost three times as much (if not more) in a store.
4. Lotions Have Many Uses
A cheap generic product, such as an unbranded baby lotion, is a great fallback item that can be used as an everyday moisturizer and skin lotion. Some other uses include: cleanser, massage oil, shaving balm, and frizzy hair control.
5. Classic Shoes or Trendy Shoes?
Every season there is a way to buy shoes that are classics, but still fit the current trend. The best bet is to usually go middle of the road – try to find something that will go with many different outfits – without appearing too in fashion. A classic mid-heel in the latest color can mean you’ve bought to last, but it’s a good way to look up to the minute.
6. When washing – Turn It Out
Before you wash your knitwear or brushed cotton, make sure you turn the item inside out. This helps prevent piling and bobbling of the material, which can makes clothes look over worn.
7. DIY: Make Your Own Stuff, Save Money
- Clothing – Plenty of women’s magazines have free patterns so you will only end up spending money on material. Buy materials from markets and discount material stores. Find a pattern that suits you and use it several times.
- Jewelry – You can make your own jewelry at a fraction of the price with wire, elastic, beads and jewelry fasteners. Save broken necklaces, bracelets or earrings for spare parts you can use to make something completely new.
8. Have A Rummage
Once or twice a year, make a point of visiting a garage, church or rummage sale to stock up on essentials like scarves and other key pieces. Choose colors that will compliment your existing clothing.
9. Lovely Lashes
Turn ordinary (cheaper) mascara into the lash-lengthening variety by dusting your lashes with loose translucent powder before you apply the mascara. This will help the mascara stick to the whole lash and is a great way to get the effect of an expensive product at a fraction of the price.
10. Splurge on Shampoo
Good quality shampoo does not contain detergent ingredients that strip hair, so if you’re budgeting, it’s better to buy a good shampoo than conditioner. Conditioners are pretty much universal in their hair-smoothing offerings, so don’t worry about trying cheaper versions.
Related Articles:
Recommended links:
Tags: alternate uses, DIY, generic brands
Posted in Featured, Shopping | 3 Comments »
1. Print in Draft Quality as much as possible
In your printer options you can choose to print in “draft quality”. Unless you’re printing up that award winning photo, you’ll want to leave your printer on draft quality most of the time.
2. When printing black and white, use the black and white setting!
Similar to the above tip, when printing something that is only black and white (such as text-only) you will want to go into your printer settings and change the quality to “black and white”. This makes sure that your printer is only using the black ink cartridge.
3. Some Fonts that can save you ink
There is a great font called “Ecofont”. This font has small little holes in each character that allows you to save 20% of your ink, without loosing readability. Other fonts that help you save ink are Garamond, Courier and Brush Script, just try not to use bold.
4. Only print what you need
We’ve all experienced it, you print something off a web page, and the whole web page prints out! There is a great service called “Print What You Like”, which allows you to print only certain parts of a web page. As an alternative, and maybe for the more tech savvy, you can also highlight the text you want, paste it into a program like Microsoft Word or Notepad, and print from there.
5. Cartridges will go bad if left unused
Print at least one item a week. Cartridges will die if not used regularly. Recently I left my printer in storage for awhile and couldn’t figure out why the prints came out the way they did. Turns out, lack of use made the ink go bad.
6. Refill your own Cartridges
You can buy Ink Cartridge refill kits for about half the price of an Ink Cartridge. This tip is really only for the hardcore DIY’er. You need to follow the instructions that come with your kit VERY carefully. Here is a great link to get you started.
7. Buy Re Manufactured Cartridges
A lot of companies will do the work of having to refill your cartridge for you. They will take a name brand cartridge and refill it on a professional level, so if you’re a little hesitant about the DIY aspect, and don’t spending a little extra money, this is a good alternative to the tip above.
8. Check your Printer’s Drum
When your printer is not producing the results you expect, sometimes you can get away with replacing the drum in your printer. This costs a lot less than having to refill an entire cartridge.
9. Buy Ink Cartridges online
You can find much better deals online. Just make sure you’re buying the right kind of cartridge for your printer. You can even find some trusth worthy generic cartridges out there, just make sure you read the reviews. Also, if you buy in bulk, you may save money with free shipping.
10. Properly shut down your Printer
You wouldn’t just slam the power button on your computer to shut it off, the same goes for your printer. If you power it down the wrong way, your heads could be in the wrong position, and this can cause the ink to dry out faster.
Tags: DIY, repairs, technology
Posted in Featured, Tech | 3 Comments »
Try out these great recipes for homemade dog food, biscuits and even frozen treats. Your dog will love these tasty snacks!
1. Homemade Dog Food
This delicious dog food recipe is sure to make your dog happy and fill its belly! Feed your dog knowing what goes into their dog food.
- 1- 2 lb. of roast beef or a whole chicken
- 6 cups of cooked white or brown rice
- 1 can of peas (drained)
- 1 can of carrots (drained)
- 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
- Cook the meat in a crock pot for 4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low. Add about 2 cups of water to the meat. After meat has cooked and cooled shred or cut up into small 1/4″- 1/2″ chunks. Save the juices from the meat mixture in the crockpot.
- In a very large bowl mix rice, peas, carrots and garlic powder. Then add meat and juices from crockpot. Mix with large spoon. I usually freeze the dog food in muffin tins sprayed with Pam. Then transfer them into a ziplock bag to freeze, then freeze the next batch in the muffin tin.
- We take one frozen dogfood muffin out a day and microwave for about 1 min. add a little water and pour it over the hard food that we serve our dogs every morning.
2. Bad Breath Banishers
Everybody knows about bad breath and dogs, so here is an all natural delicious treat that will freshen your dog’s breath.
- 2 cups brown of rice flour
- 1 Tablespoon of activated charcoal (find this at drugstores, not briquets)
- 3 Tablespoons of canola oil
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup of chopped fresh mint
- 1/2 cup of chopped fresh parsley
- 2/3 cup of low fat milk
Preheat oven to 400F. Lightly oil a cookie sheet. Combine flour and charcoal. Add all the other ingredients. Drop teaspoonfulls on oiled sheet, about 1 inch apart. Bake 15-20 minutes. Store in airtight container in the refrigerator.
3. Frozen Doggie Treats
Your dog will love this Popsicle-like treat on a hot day!
- 1 Tablespoons of honey
- 3 Tablespoons of peanut butter
- 1 ripe banana
- 16 ounces of plain yogurt
Mix the peanut butter, honey, and fruit together until well blended—mash with a fork or use the blender. Add the fruit mixture to the yogurt and mix well. Freeze in ice cube trays. Crack trays and release treats as needed!
4. Baggins’ Dog Biscuits
Fresh homemade dog biscuits. Your dog will love you for these homemade treats!
- 1 cup of Whole Wheat Flour
- 1 cup of Regular Flour
- 1/2 cup of Powdered milk
- 1/2 cup of Wheat germ
- 1 Egg slightly beaten
- 1 Teaspoon of Molasses
- 6 Tablespoon of Shortening
- 1/2 Cup Water
Preheat oven to 325. Mix dry ingredients and cut in the shortening. Add egg, molasses and water. Knead lightly on a floured surface. Roll dough out to 1/2 inch and cut into fun shapes using cookie cutters. Bake for 30 minutes.
5. Veggie Doggie Bagels
A healthy vegetarian treat for your dog. A great diet food.
- 1 Teaspoon of Vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup of Wheat Flour
- 2½ cups of White Flour
- 1/4 Teaspoon of Baking soda
- 1/4 Teaspoon of Baking powder
- 1/2 cup of Chopped spinach
- 1/2 cup of Chopped carrots
- 1 Egg
- 3/4 Cup of Water
Preheat to 350 degrees. Combine wet and dry ingredients separately. Then mix together. Knead by hand. Form into ball shaped pieces. Depending on your dog’s size, golf or tennis ball. Flatten and poke a hole in the center and shape into a bagel. Bake for 45-50 minutes. You can garnish cooled bagels with poppyseeds or sesame seeds by spraying lightly with water and then sprinkling with seeds.
Let us know about some of your favorite treats that you like to share with your dog.
Recommended links:
Tags: DIY, pets, recipes
Posted in Family, Featured | 2 Comments »
1. Dried Out Bread
Save slices in a freezer container or bread bag until you need to make bread crumbs. Grind up in your blender or food processor. When using as a topping, toss in melted margarine, and season. Also, here is a recipe for a yummy bread pudding:
Pioneer Bread Pudding
- 2-cups of leftover bread cubes
- 2-cups of milk
- 3-tablespoons of butter
- 1/4 cup of sugar
- 2 Eggs
- A dash of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla
Use day old bread , crusts and all, cut into 1/4 to 1/2 inch cubes. Place these in a 1 quart buttered baking dish. Scald the milk,butter and sugar. Beat the eggs slightly; Add the salt then stir in the warm milk and add vanilla. Pour over the bread cubes.
Set the baking dish in another pan containing warm water up to level of the pudding. Bake at 350 degrees For one hour or until a small knife comes out clean when inserted into the center of the pudding. Makes 4-6 servings.
2. Toilet Paper Tubes
Use to gather up that unsightly, excess electrical cord on your kitchen appliances, lamps, entertainment center, etc.
3. Crayon Bits
Place a variety of crayon colors in a muffin tin and melt them down in the oven. This makes a scribble cookie. Each one has its own unique color and pattern. Use for an inexpensive stocking stuffer.
4. Dryer Lint
According to a lot of gardening experts i’ve spoken with, you can compost dryer lint. There is one catch, the lint must be from cotton material. Although, synthetic lint can be composted for flower garden use.
5. Milk Jug Rings
Use these to keep socks together when laundering. Store in a drawer with rings. When taking socks out, keep ring on bureau. Replace ring around soiled socks before them tossing in a hamper.
6. Carrot Peels, Onion Skins, and Celery Leaves.
Frugal cooks can use these when cooking up turkey and chicken bones for soup stock.
7. Tuna Fish Can
Use to make cookie cutters. Cut off bottom of can and shape with two pliers, preferably needle nose. When making a symmetrical design begin working at opposite points of the can.
8. Leftover Rice
Make a rice crust for a quiche by combining 1½ cups of cooked rice, 1 ounce of shredded cheese, and an egg. Pat out in a pie plate. For a larger quiche dish, increase the rice and cheese portions slightly. Do not Pam or grease the dish. Bake at 425° for 20 minutes.
Comment in the box below, letting us know how you reuse any of your household items.
Thank you to Amy Dacyczyn from her book titled “The Tightwad Gazette” for these helpful frugal ideas.
Recommended links:
Tags: alternate uses, DIY, kids
Posted in Family, Featured, Homecare | No Comments »
If you don’t want to shell out the extra cash for bathroom cleaner, here are some great DIY-Homemade alternatives that work just as well.
Baking Soda/Vinegar Based Drain Cleaner
Pour 1 cup of baking soda down your drains, followed by a 1/2 cup of vinegar. Cover the drain and let it sit for 15-30 minutes. After, uncover drain and pour 2 quarts of boiling water down. You can pour more boiling water down after a minute or two, then run cold water for 2-3 minutes.
If all else fails, you can try leaving the vinegar and baking soda mixture in overnight, and pour the boiling water in over the morning, it may save you the hassle of having to call a plumber.
Chlorine Based Tile/Grout Cleaner
Before putting this mixture into a bottle, you’ll want to make it’s been thoroughly cleaned. Here are two great mixtures I found:
Tile Cleaner
- 1 Part Chlorine Bleach
- 1 Part Water
- 1 Quart Spray Bottle
- Rubber Gloves
Whenever working with bleach, you need to make sure you’re always in a well ventilated area.
Just add all of these into your bottle, spray on the tile and use a pair of gloves and a sponge to wipe it off.
Grout Cleaner
- 3/4 Cup of Chlorine Bleach
- 3 Cups of Water
- 1 Quart Spray Bottle
- Rubber Gloves
- Tooth Brush
Once again, mix this into the 1 quart bottle, spray, and scrub the grout with the toothbrush while wearing gloves. If the grout is especially dirty, you can spray on liberally and let it stand for 10 minutes, then scrub. Grout is a little harder to clean, but with some persitence and this mixture, the stains should come right out.
Take care of your tile with sealant.
One of the best tips for keeping your grout and tile clean is to take preventative measures by using a store bought sealant. I’ve looked into some home made sealants, but have heard warnings about them darkening your grout, so I won’t post any here. The best option is to find out what sealant is best suited for your tile/grout and use that.
Baking Soda/Vinegar Based Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Mix :
- 1/4 Cup of Baking Soda
- 1 Cup of Vinegar
Next, pour this into the toilet, let it set for about 3-5 minutes, then scrub with a brush and rinse. This is not only good for your septic system but also good for the environment.
Daily Shower Spray
Makes 1/2 Gallon (this will also work as an all purpose bathroom cleaner for use on the outsides of toilets and sink)
Use an empty 1/2 Gallon container to mix the solution in:
- 1/2 Cup of Baking Soda
- 1 Quart of hot water
- 1 Quart of cold water
- 1/2 Cup of white vinegar
Mix or shake in ingredients, and load into a spray bottle. Clean shower with solution daily.
Let us know about any of your amazing bathroom concoctions that you use to help keep your bathroom nice and clean.
Recommended links:
Tags: DIY, Homecare
Posted in Featured, Homecare | No Comments »
